16th October 2025
School News
Revd April Gold joined the Bishop of Coventry and the Mayor of Rugby on Tuesday to attend a special service at Clifton-upon-Dunsmore CofE Primary School to celebrate its 175th anniversary. Other guests in attendance were the vicar, previous Headteachers, current and previous governors and colleagues from the neighbouring church MAT who have been working in partnership with the school.
April said “It was wonderful to visit the school and to see the children dressed up to represent the different eras through which the school has operated. Guests visited the classrooms for each year group to share their work on a particular 25-year period. We then joined with the whole school for a special celebration time of worship at which the children sang a wonderful medley of songs to reflect the eras. We finished with birthday cake and then the school was open for parents to visit.”
The photo shows Headteacher Lisa Bernard with one of the fascinating log books they’d found in the archives which dated back to the 1860s.
Headteacher and Parish Partners’ Conference – Tuesday 18 November
‘Leading for Faith, Hope and Justice’
We look forward to welcoming you to this year’s conference at Ardencote Hotel on Tuesday 18 November 2025, 09.30 – 14.30 for a day of inspiration and joint working with your Parish Partners. If you can’t attend, do please send another colleague.
Keynote Speaker Diana Osagie on ‘Being Fearless and Intentionally Courageous’
Diana Osagie brings over two decades of experience including taking on the role of headteacher in a secondary school in inner London. Her journey is rooted in resilience, courage, and a commitment to honesty. Diana has led through adversity and speaks with humour and insight. She aims to connect, inspire, motivate and leave you ready to roar with the courage in your leadership!
Find out how to deliver ‘Difference for Primary’ in your school
After lunch there will be a workshop with the Difference team from Lambeth Palace. Their free suite of ‘Difference’ resources will help your school navigate an increasingly complex world, inspired by Jesus to embrace difference and champion a culture of hope and empathy. Find out more about Difference here.
Or Learn about becoming a Cross of Nails School (or how to refresh your status) with Emma Griffiths from Coventry Cathedral.
Do send an additional staff member after lunch if you’d like your school to take advantage of both workshops (Difference and ICONS).
We will be Worshipping with iSingPOP and see their new song to complement the ‘Difference’ programme
Each school attending will get a free copy of ‘Heroes of Hope’ – 22 Inspiring Stories of Christians around the World by Revd Dr Sharon Prentis and Alysia-Lara Ayonrinde.
There will be time at the end of the day to use the space to hold any meetings or have networking time if you wish.
Getting the Most Out of Your Pop Box – Recording Now Available
Want to get pupils leading collective worship?
Is your Pop Box gathering dust on a shelf?
Not quite sure how it should be used?
This short 20 min session, led by iSingPOP Project Leader Emma Kenyon, demostrates how best to use your pop box and help support your collective worship in school. One of the delegates told us that this resource has been excellent and really helpful in her school for supporting children to lead collective worship.
Find he session here on the DBE website resources page under collective worship. Any further questions – contact Emma on emma.kenyon@isingpop.com
Upcoming Termly SIAMS Update Session
Live and recorded session – Monday 24 November 16.30 to 17.30
This session, led by Jen Jenkins, is intended to support those schools who are due for inspection in the next two years.
Book here to either attend or receive the recording.
Thrive Licensed Childhood Practitioner Course
Stour Federation MAT are offering this course for the spring term. The Thrive Childhood Practitioner Course will revolutionise how you view behaviour. Equipped with Thrive-Online, you will learn how to identify pupils’ social and emotional needs and create targeted action plans to remove barriers to learning. See further details and how to book here.
For the full Headlines newslettter contact joanne.evans@coventrydbe.org